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NASA NTRS1989

Global magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the magnetosphere

The use of a global MHD simulation to study the magnetospheric configuration is demonstrated by reviewing some of the results obtained with the model of Ogino (1986). The steady-state configuration of the magnetosphere in the absence of an IMF is considered, and it is demonstrated that this configuration is changed when a northward or southward IMF is introduced. It is noted that the magnetosphere is very dynamic, and that, since global MHD simulations are intrinsically time-dependent, they offer the possibility of modeling the time sequence of events in the magnetosphere. Results are presented from a calculation in which a magnetospheric substrom is modeled.

Walker, Raymond J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The magnetosphere of Neptune - Its response to daily rotation

The Neptunian magnetosphere periodically changes every eight hours between a pole-on magnetosphere with only one polar cusp and an earth-type magnetosphere with two polar cusps. In the pole-on configuration, the tail current sheet has an almost circular shape with plasma currents closing entirely within the magnetosphere. Eight hours later the tail current sheet assumes an almost flat shape with plasma currents touching the magnetotail boundary and closing over the tail magnetopause. Magnetic field and tail current sheet configurations have been calculated in a three-dimensional model, but the plasma- and thermodynamic conditions were investigated in a simplified two-dimensional MHD equilibrium magnetosphere. It was found that the free energy in the tail region of the two-dimensional model becomes independent of the dipole tilt angle. It is conjectured that the Neptunian magnetotail might assume quasi-static equilibrium states that make the free energy of the system independent of its daily rotation.

Voigt, Gerd-Hannes↗

NASA NTRS1990

A correlative investigation of the propagation of ULF wave power through the dayside magnetosphere

Three different ULF wave phenomena (azimuthally polarized Pc 3 pulsations, radially polarized Pc 4 pulsations, and solitary Pc 5 pulsations related to solar wind pressure pulses) were studied. The main problems covered are: (1) how do magnetospheric Pc 3-4 pulsations, which appear to originate in the solar wind, enter the magnetosphere, and how is this wave energy transported throughout the magnetosphere once it enters; (2) what is the ULF response of the outer dayside magnetosphere to solar wind pressure pulses; and (3) how do Pc 3-4 pulsations modulate ELF-VLF emissions in the dayside magnetosphere.

Engebretson, Mark J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The role of the ionosphere in coupling upstream ULF wave power into the dayside magnetosphere

A series of recent studies of Pc 3 magnetic pulsations in the dayside outer magnetosphere has given new insights into the possible mechanisms of entry of ULF wave power into the magnetosphere from a bow shock-related upstream source. A comparison is made of data from two 10-hour intervals on successive days in April 1986 and then a possible model for transmission of pulsation signals from the magnetosheath into the dayside magnetosphere is presented. Clear interplanetary magnetic field magnitude control of dayside resonant harmonic pulsations and band-limited very high latitude pulsations, as well as pulsation-modulated precipitation of what appear to be magnetosheath/boundary layer electrons are shown. It is believed that this modulated precipitation may be responsible for the propagation of upstream wave power in the Pc 3 frequency band into the high-latitude ionosphere, from whence it may be transported throughout the dayside outer magnetosphere by means of an 'ionospheric transistor'. In this model, modulations in ionospheric conductivity caused by cusp/cleft precipitation cause varying ionospheric currents with frequency spectra determined by the upstream waves; these modulations will be superimposed on the Birkeland currents, which close via these ionospheric currents. Modulated region 2 Birkeland currents will in turn provide a narrow-band source of wave energy to a wide range of dayside local times in the outer magnetosphere.

Engebretson, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Magnetospheric radio and plasma wave research - 1987-1990

This review covers research performed in the area of magnetospheric plasma waves and wave-particle interactions as well as magnetospheric radio emissions. The report focuses on the near-completion of the discovery phase of radio and plasma wave phenomena in the planetary magnetospheres with the successful completion of the Voyager 2 encounters of Neptune and Uranus. Consideration is given to the advances made in detailed studies and theoretical investigations of radio and plasma wave phenomena in the terrestrial magnetosphere or in magnetospheric plasmas in general.

Kurth, W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Global electric field determination in the Earth's outer magnetosphere using charged particles

Although many properties of the Earth's magnetosphere have been measured and quantified in the past 30 years since it was discovered, one fundamental (for a zeroeth order magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium) measurement was made infrequently and with poor spatial coverage: the global electric field. This oversight is in part due to the difficulty of measuring a plasma electric field, and in part due to the difficulty of measuring a plasma electric field, and in part due to the neglect of theorists. However, there is renewed interest in the convection electric field, since it has been realized that it is vital for understanding many aspects of the magnetosphere: the global MHD equilibrium, reconnection rates, Region 2 Birkeland currents, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, ring current and radiation belt transport, substorm injections, acceleration mechanisms, etc. Unfortunately the standard experimental methods have not been able to synthesize a global field (excepting the pioneering work of McIlwain's geostationary models), and we are left with an overly simplistic theoretical field, the Volland-Stern electric field mode. Again, single point measurements of the plasma pause were used to infer the appropriate amplitudes of the model, parameterized by Kp (Maynard & Chen, JGR 1975). Although this result was never intended to be the definitive electric field model, it has gone nearly unchanged for 15 years. However, the data sets being taken today require a great deal more accuracy than can be provided by the Volland-Stern model. Nor has the variability of the electric field shielding been properly addressed, although effects of penetrating magnetospheric electric fields has been seen in mid- and low-latitude ionospheric data sets. The growing interests in substorm dynamics also requires a much better assessment of the electric fields responsible for particle injections. Thus, we proposed and developed algorithms for extracting electric fields from particle data taken in the earth's magnetosphere. As a test of the effectiveness of these techniques, we analyzed data taken by the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft in equatorial orbit between 1984-1988. Some analytic tools had to be developed before construction of computer algorithms, and they are discussed.

Eastman, T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Transient events in the outer magnetosphere - Boundary waves of flux transfer events?

Simultaneous solar wind and magnetospheric observations are presented for a series of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed by the UKS and IRM spacecraft in the outer prenoon magnetosphere on October 28, 1984. The CCE satellite, located near local noon, observed an enhancement in the magnetospheric magnetic field strength 4 min prior to each IRM/UKS event, suggesting the antisunward propagation of a compression in the magnetopause surface. It is suggested that these compressions resulted from wavy magnetopause motion driven by variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure applied to the magnetosphere, rather than the motion of FTEs formed by magnetic merging. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that the events previously identified as FTEs occurred during a sequence of quasi-periodic (5-6 min) oscillations in the magnetospheric plasma velocity and magnetic field.

Sibeck, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

AMPTE CCE observations of Pi 2 pulsations in the inner magnetosphere

Magnetic field data acquired with the AMPTE Charge Composition Explorer satellite in the inner magnetosphere (L = 2-5) often show Pi 2 pulsations whose waveforms match Pi 2 pulsations simultaneously observed on the ground at Kakioka (L = 1.2). From a study such events, it is found that the magnetic pulsations in the equatorial magnetosphere are dominated by poloidal-mode oscillations. The relative phase between the compressional component at CCE and the horizontal component at Kakioka is either near zero or near 180 deg, with the 180 lag observed only when the satellite is at L greater than 3. This observation implies that there is a node of a radial standing wave at L greater than 3. It is argued that the nodal structure arises from reflection of MHD fast-mode waves at some inner boundary of the magnetosphere and discuss the relevance of the nodal structure to cavity-mode resonances and oscillations in the inner magnetosphere forced by a source wave external to the inner magnetosphere.

Takahashi, Kazue↗

NASA NTRS1992

Diodelike response of high-latitude plasma in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in the presence of field-aligned currents

The dynamic processes in the plasma along high-latitude field lines plays an important role in ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling process. A time-dependent, large-scale simulation of these dynamics parallel to the geomagnetic field lines from the ionosphere well into the magnetosphere is created. The plasma consists of hot e(-) and H(+) of magnetospheric origin and low-energy e(-), H(+), and O(+) of ionospheric origin. Including multiple electron species, a major improvement to the model, made it possible for the first time to simulate the upward current region properly and to dynamically simulate the diodelike response of the field-line plasma to the parallel currents coupling the ionosphere and magnetosphere. It is shown that return currents flow with small resistance, while upward currents produce kilovolt-sized potential drops along the field, as concluded from satellite observations. The kilovolt potential drops are due to the effect of the converging magnetic field on the high-energy magnetospheric electrons.

Mitchell, H. G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1992

ULF waves in the outer magnetosphere of Uranus

ULF waves are ubiquitous in the terrestrial magnetosphere, and play a critical role in the physics of the magnetosphere. A search for similar waves in the Uranian magnetosphere using Voyager 2 magnetometer data reveals ULF waves in the outer magnetosphere near the magnetopause. These waves decrease in amplitude with distance from the magnetopause. In the interior of the magnetosphere the wave level is at or below the noise level of the instrument.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Plasma-neutral interaction processes in the magnetosphere of Saturn

Models of Saturnian magnetospheric processes are reviewed emphasizing the interaction of charged and neutral particles in the gaseous phase and mentioning the role of solid matter. It is found that interpretations of different Voyager datasets regarding the Saturnian magnetosphere can vary. Specific interactions examined to resolve these discrepancies include charge exchange, ion-atom interchange, isotropizing and thermalizing collisions, and interactions between magnetospheric charged particles and surface layers of the icy satellites. The latter interactions result in sputtering of the surface or atmosphere as well as neutral injections into the magnetosphere. Constraints based on known reaction rates are shown to be useful in analyzing the abundances of the water-group molecules. The composition of the magnetospheric plasma is shown to be related to the differences between the interactions of atomic and molecular plasmas with neutral matter.

Eviatar, Aharon↗

NASA NTRS1992

Global magnetospheric imaging

The demonstrated and developing methods for global magnetospheric imaging are presented and the scientific expectations of having global observations in conjunction with local measurements are discussed. The global observations of the previously invisible magnetosphere will provide the first look at the overall magnetosphere, its dynamics, and the interactions between its component parts. The capability of imaging magnetospheric plasmas marks the first occasion where an astrophysical plasma system which has been well characterized by in situ measurements, i.e., the earth's magnetosphere, can also be characterized globally by remote sensing.

Williams, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Modeling of the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos

This report summarizes the progress made in the first year of NASA Grant No. NAGW-3508 entitled 'Modeling of the Coupled Magnetospheric and Neutral Wind Dynamos.' The approach taken has been to impose magnetospheric boundary conditions with either pure voltage or current characteristics and solve the neutral wind dynamo equation under these conditions. The imposed boundary conditions determine whether the neutral wind dynamo will contribute to the high-latitude current system or the electric potential. The semi-annual technical report, dated December 15, 1993, provides further detail describing the scientific and numerical approach of the project. The numerical development has progressed and the dynamo solution for the case when the magnetosphere acts as a voltage source has been evaluated completely using spectral techniques. The simulation provides the field-aligned current distribution at high latitudes due to the neutral wind dynamo. A number of geophysical conditions can be simulated to evaluate the importance of the neutral wind dynamo contribution to the field-aligned current system. On average, field-aligned currents generated by the neutral wind dynamo contributed as much as 30 percent to the large-scale field-aligned current system driven by the magnetosphere. A term analysis of the high-latitude neutral wind dynamo equation describing the field aligned current distribution has also been developed to illustrate the important contributing factors involved in the process. The case describing the neutral dynamo response for a magnetosphere acting as a pure current generator requires the existing spectral code to be extended to a pseudo-spectral method and is currently under development.

Thayer, Jeffrey P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Global electric field determination in the Earth's outer magnetosphere using energetic charged particles

Although many properties of the Earth's magnetosphere have been measured and quantified in the past 30 years since it was discovered, one fundamental measurement (for zeroth order MHD equilibrium) has been made infrequently and with poor spatial coverage - the global electric field. This oversight is due in part to the neglect of theorists. However, there is renewed interest in the convection electric field because it is now realized to be central to many magnetospheric processes, including the global MHD equilibrium, reconnection rates, Region 2 Birkeland currents, magnetosphere ionosphere coupling, ring current and radiation belt transport, substorm injections, and several acceleration mechanisms. Unfortunately the standard experimental methods have not been able to synthesize a global field (excepting the pioneering work of McIlwain's geostationary models) and we are left with an overly simplistic theoretical field, the Volland-Stern electric field model. Single point measurements of the plasmapause were used to infer the appropriate amplitudes of this model, parameterized by K(sub p). Although this result was never intended to be the definitive electric field model, it has gone nearly unchanged for 20 years. The analysis of current data sets requires a great deal more accuracy than can be provided by the Volland-Stern model. The variability of electric field shielding has not been properly addressed although effects of penetrating magnetospheric electric fields has been seen in mid-and low-latitude ionospheric data sets. The growing interest in substorm dynamics also requires a much better assessment of the electric fields responsible for particle injections. Thus we proposed and developed algorithms for extracting electric fields from particle data taken in the Earth's magnetosphere. As a test of the effectiveness of these new techniques, we analyzed data taken by the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft in equatorial orbit from 1984 to 1989.

Eastman, Timothy E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Statistical study of ULF wave occurrence in the dayside magnetosphere

Ultralow-frequency (ULF) waves are observed almost everywhere in the dayside magnetosphere. The mechanism by which these waves are generated and transformed in the dayside magnetosphere is still not understood. Here we report a statistical study of these waves based on magnetic field data from the International Sun-Earth Explorer 1 (ISEE 1) spacecraft. Data from the first traversal of the spacecraft through the entire dayside magnetosphere have been examined to determine the spatial distribution of wave occurrence. Successive 20-min segments of data were transformed to a field-aligned coordinate system. The parallel component was detrended and all three components of the field spectrally analyzed. Wave occurrence was defined by the presence of significant peaks in the power spectra. Wave events were categorized by three wave frequency bands: Pc 3 with T approximately 10-45 s; Pc 4 with T approximately 45-150 s; the short-period part of the Pc 5 wave band with T approximately 150-324 s. Properties of the spectral peaks were then entered into a data base. The data base was next sorted to determine the spatial occurrence pattern for the waves. Our results show that Pc 3 waves most frequently occur just outside synchronous orbit and are approximately centered on local noon. Pc 4 waves have a similar distribution with its peak further out. Pc 5 waves have high occurrence rate at the two flanks of the magnetosphere. Peaks in spectra obtained near the magnetopause are less clearly defined than those deeper in the magnetosphere.

Cao, M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Generation of region 1 current by magnetospheric pressure gradients

The Rice Convection Model (RCM) is used to illustrate theoretical possibilities for generating region 1 Birkeland currents by pressure gradients on closed field lines in the Earth's magnetosphere. Inertial effects and viscous forces are neglected. The RCM is applied to idealized cases, to emphasize the basic physical ideas rather than realistic representation of the actual magnetosphere. Ionospheric conductance is taken to be uniform, and the simplest possible representations of the magnetospheric plasma are used. Three basic cases are considered: (1) the case of pure northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), with cusp merging assumed to create new closed field lines near the nose of the magnetosphere, following the suggestion by Song and Russell (1992); (2) the case where Dungey-type reconnection occurs at the nose, but magnetosheath plasma somehow enters closed field lines on the dawnside and duskside of the merging region, causing a pressure-driven low-latitude boundary layer; and (3) the case where Dungey-type reconnection occurs at the nose, but region 1 currents flow on sunward drifting plasma sheet field lines. In case 1, currents of region 1 sense are generated by pressure gradients, but those currents do not supply the power for ionospheric convection. Results for case 2 suggest that pressure gradients at the inner edge of the low-latitude boundary layer might generate a large fraction of the region 1 Birkeland currents that drive magnetospheric convection. Results for case 3 indicate that pressure gradients in the plasma sheet could provide part of the region 1 current.

Yang, Y. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Electron distributions in the inner Jovian magnetosphere: Voyager 1 observations

Using several improvements in the analysis of the observations of the Low Energy Charged Particle (LECP) experiment on Voyager 1, electron phase space densities in the inner Jovian magnetosphere (5 - 10 R(sub J) were first calculated at constant first and second invariants (represented by mu and K, respectively), based on the LECP measurements. The calculated electron phase space density profiles show that in the inner Jovian magnetosphere there exist evident time and longitude variations, energetic electron injections, and present radial transport and distributed losses. To study the radial and pitch angle diffusions of Jovian electrons, we have calculated the phase space densities in the K-L space. It is found that the electron population in the inner Jovian magnetosphere seems to consist of two components: electrons radially diffusing from a main external source and electrons generated from local sources. The radially diffusing electrons have a relatively time stationary and isotropic distribution, while the locally created electrons mainly concentrate around the equatorial plane and have relatively lower energies, in comparison with the inward diffusing electrons. Consequently, the sources of precipitation losses to the ionosphere must be primarily electrons transported from outer sources, and the major precipitations occur in the inner magnetosphere (L less than 7.5 R(sub J). In the inner Jovian magnetosphere (L = 5 to approximately 10 R(sub J)) it is estimated that for electrons with magnetic moment mu = 300 MeV/G, the diffusion coefficient D is roughly 10(exp -8) to approximately 10(exp -6) R(exp 2)(sub J)/s, and the lifetime against the diffusion losses is of the order of 10(exp 4) to approximately 10(exp 6) s.

Ye, G.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Magnetospheric convection pattern and its implications

When we use 14 months of the Fast Plasma Experiment ion velocity measurements, the mean magnetospheric circulation pattern is constructed. It is shown that the magnetospheric convection velocity is of the order tens of kilometers per second. The convection is largely restricted to the outer magnetosphere. During magnetically active periods the convection velocity increases and the convection boundary extends to the region closer to the Earth, indicating more magnetic field flux is being transported to the dayside magnetosphere. It is also shown that the convective flows tend to follow contours of constant unit flux volume as they move around the Earth, especially on the duskside of the magnetosphere. This helps to avoid the pressure balance inconsistency often found in two-dimensional magnetotail models.

Zhu, Xiaoming↗